Friday, November 30, 2007

Poor Mr. Pigeon has been sulking in the corner muttering about migration all afternoon. Apparently he hasn't taken too well to his hen friend's popularity. He emerged from my bag at work this morning to cries of "I prefer the hen" and "No, the hen's much better" and not even his special Christmas hat managed to persuade them otherwise.

The little hens on the other hand have been doing very well for themselves -there's even a small waiting list for them :)

Thursday, November 29, 2007

This morning (after taking a few photos) I said goodbye to my second chicken (...or hen- I never know the difference) as she was wrapped up as a birthday present and handed over to start her new life in Spain.

She's been called "Caponata" after the Big Bird-like hen in Spanish Sesame Street. It's also the name of a greek dish of some sort but don't worry, she should be nice and safe- the meat of choice here is pork (...but with omelette being a national favourite she'll have a lot of work to do...)

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Being so far away from your sewing machine, fabrics, fancy wool and kitchen is hard enough without your mother sending these lovely photos of the Busy Bees 'open house' day she went to...

Busy Bees is in Co. Durham and we went there about 3 years ago to do a little pre-Christmas craft workshop (which is what the lady mainly does) in her craft shed. There are american folk art/ country style painting, sewing and ...er...other workshops and of course most importantly tea and cake is included :D

Mmmmmmmm.

This was my attempt at a Christmassy "pail". It's a very easy pattern and I've since adapted it to make a pail with sheep on and a pail in the same fabric as the cushions in my room. Very addictive.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Have you ever wondered what to buy your fish for Christmas? No, me neither but I reckon any fish would love ACTION SHRIMP...

...don't ask - the way my brain works even scares me sometimes!

In other news: last week I found "Women's Secret" (a name which is supposed to sound classy and sophisticated as it's in English but makes me giggle every time I see it) in Salamanca and couldn't resist the robots range which all comes with little felt robot badges attached. Can't wait to get home to start making my own version :D

Monday, November 19, 2007

The lovely Val from DottyCookie very kindly posted the pattern for her fab Christmas Pudding patch and I couldn't wait to try it. Of course, not having an iron my knitting rolled up so I solved the problem by making two patches, sewing them together, stuffing them and making a plump pudding instead. It was very quick to make and it was the perfect size for....yes, you guessed it...

Sunday, November 18, 2007

When I woke up to find the grape juice on my window sill covered with frost I decided it was time to crochet something to keep away the cold. I also just happened to have watched Legally Blonde for the somethingteenth time and wanted to make myself a crocheted hat with a flower similar to the one in the film. This is the result...

The hat (which isn't pointy- it's folded in half) was surpisingly quick and easy to make but the scarf took aaaaaaages. (I watched Sweet Home Alabama whilst making the scarf to keep myself entertained - predictable but a good film to crochet to).

They're both my own pattern so if you would like to make your own just e-mail me and I'll type up the instructions which are currently scribbled on the corner of my German homework.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Yes, this little bird is so excited by his new knitted santa hat that he wants to share the pattern with the world.

If you don't own a pigeon then don't worry! These could be made for little dolls, used as tree decorations, as christmas egg-warmers etc. The diameter of the hat is about 3.5-4cm but you can easily make bigger hats by using larger needles or casting on more stitches at the beginning.

Mr. Pigeon's Christmas Hat Pattern

Using 3mm knitting needles cast on 22 stitches with white yarn.

Garter stitch 2 rows (that's normal knitting)

Change to red yarn and from this point work in stocking stitch (SS = knit one row, purl one row) throughout, starting with a knit row.

You may have spotted a pattern! Continue in this way (decreasing at each end of every knit row) until you are left with 4 stitches. Cut the yarn leaving about 15cm. Thread through a needle and draw up the remaining 4 stitches tightly.

I then folded the had in half lengthways and used mattress stitch to join the two edges. My glamourous assisstant is demonstrating the nice neat seam...

To make the pompom wrap white yarn around two of your fingers lots and lots of times then tie in the middle with another piece of white yarn. Cut through the loops and trim until it looks like a real pompom. Then sew it onto the top of your santa hat.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Eeeeeeeeeeeee! The excitement is setting in. I've just ordered my own Christmas present online- this print gocco machine thingy and can't wait. I've always wanted to make my own stationery. It's torture to know that it'll be sitting at home and that I can't open it until the 25th.

If you've never heard of a gocco here are some links to some pretty amazing gocco-printed goodness:

Monday, November 5, 2007

I needed to make a card and couldn't resist the colours on this paper. Then I decided that it looked nice on my bookshelf next to Miss Hennypenny (who coordinates with it) and kept it for decorative purposes instead. That happens with a surprising number of things I make :D